Electric switch



0 C. C. STIRLING.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION mzp SEPT.26, 1918.

1,383,349. I Pa umw, 1 21.

I iII-AF UNITED STATES Specification of Letters Patent. PatentedJuly 5,1921 Application filed September 26, 1918; Serial No. 255,738.

To all whom it may concern: h Be it known that I, CLARENCE C. STI LINGfia citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Switches, of which .the following is aspecification. i This invention relates to electric switches, the objectof the invention being to -provide an article of this character which isquite simple in construction, comprises a comparatively small number ofparts and. is positive and certain in action. The device involves otherfeatures of novelty and advantage, which with the foregoing will bestated at length in the following description, wherein I will set forthin detail that form of embodiment of the invention which I have selectedfor illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part, of thepresent specification. I do not:neces'sarily restrict myself to thisexact disclosure I may depart therefrom in several respects within thescope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings Figure 1 is a transverse section ofa switchinvolving the invention. i

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the-line 2-3 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows, and showing the parts. in the positions inwhich they appear in said Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a'practically similar view, the full lines showing theswitching member in the closed position, the dotted lines in the openposition, and the spring on the left in the condition it appearspractically prior to the commencement of the snap movement.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4: of Fig. 1, looking inthe directionof the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail on a larger scale and in elevation, ofcertain of the parts hereinafter more particularly described.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The different parts of the switch may be sustained in any desirablemanner. Forthis purpose I have shown a supporting body as rect one.

2 practically in the form of a; disk of some insulating material suchasis ordinarily used in this art. There is associated with sald body orbase 2 a shell crease as 3, usually of metal and practicallycylindrical, the marginal portion of said shell or case being set inarabbet or channel as 4 in said body or base. Within the metal shell orcase 3 is, a lining as 5 of some suitable insulating material, thelining being of a shape to conform practically to that of the shellorcase. M r

The body or base 2 as shown practically supports centrally thereof thespindle "6 which extends through a central opening in the body or baseand which is held in assembled relation therewith. by the key "7 fittinga peripheral channel in the hub 'or sleeve 8 fastened to the lower endof the spindle; The action of the switch is controlled by a detent. as 9fastened centrally to the upper or inner surface of the body or base 2.Centrally through this detent extends the spindle 6, it being clear, ofcourse, that thespindle turns with, respect to the detent which, as Ihave practically observed, is stationary. As a matter offactwhilethespindle rotates in either direction, it does so with an intermittent orstep-by-step movement. This, however, is not essential.

The body or base 2 sustainscomplemental or dimetrically opposite clipsas 10 consti stuting convenient contacts and which are held to said bodyor base byscrews as 11. With these screws Or with the contacts or clips10 are connected the wires. It will be evident that when the contacts orclips 10 are bridged, the switch will be closed. The switching member orcontactor may be of any desirable kind. That shown is denoted in ageneral way by 12 and consists of a practically flat plate or stripcentrally through which just above the detent' 9 the spindle 6 freelyextends. Although the spindle is the prime means for eflecting thenecessary action of the switching member or contact 12, the action isnot, however, a di- The spindle may be operated in any desirable manneras by the actuator or knob 13 rigid therewith at the upper end thereof,this upper end extending through 1 switching member.

registering openings in the shell or case 3' and lining 5. Therefore,through the manipulation of the knob 13, the spindle 6 can be turned toeffect the necessary action of the switching member or contactor 12.

The switching member in addition tothe rotary or oscillatory movementsto which I have already referred, has ane'ndwise'movement for a reasonthat will hereinafter appear. It should be noted that the opening. 14throughwhich the spindle 6 extends is in the form of 'a longitudinalslot in said In view oi? this" circumstance the latter may when occasionrequires be moved end'w-ise. Surmounting the switching member is a blockor washer 1'5,

ectionas 19 rigid with theendwise movable and turnable' switching member12, the stop or projection being shown infor instance Figs. 1and 5asoccupying one oft'he notches 18 to I thus maintain positively. theswitching member in a desired position. The spindle as shownis'furnished with a hook-like projection 20 towhich is connected one endof the spring 21, the other end of said spring being shown connected toa screw" as 22 near one outer end of the switching member on theupperside thereof. This spring in the present case constitutes a convenientmeansw'hen conditioned, for imparting the necessary snap movement to theswitching member, tomove the same from'the onto the off relation or viceversa; Practically coaxial with this coiled spring 21 is a second springas 23,- the inner end of the second spring being connected with theWasher or.

block 15 already described, and the outer end thereof being connectedwith a screw 2a adjacent the outer upper end of the switching member,and constituting a convenlent' means for impartmg a retractlve movementto the switching memberto facilitate the entry of the projection orcatch 20 V V I of turning movement relatively to the into theappropriate one of the several notches 17..

In Figs. 1 and 2 for illustrationthe's'witch is shown as on, theswitching member or contactor 12 at this-time bridging the'diametricallyopposite contacts 10; that isthe ends of the" switchingmember aredisposed between the branches of said contacts or clips. At thisparticular time the projection or catch 19is then in=a peripheral notch1 8; It will be assumed that it is desired to through the: stretchedspring 21.

open the circuit for illustration by turning the switching member orcontactor 12 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. In this event thefollowing procedure will be adopted: The knob 13 will be grasped andturned, thus correspondingly turning the spindle 6 and carrying theprojection 20 therewith so as tov stretch the spring 21. As

the-spindle continues to turn in the. direcin the p direction indicatedby the arrow 7 On the endwise movement of the switching member 23 isstretched, so that when the switching member has made a quarter ofv aturn through the-action of the spring 21, the spring" 23" will impart anopposite endwise movement} to the switching member so as to movethecatch, stop or projection 19 into the n0tch18" next around from thenotch it had last occupied and thus positively arrestthe further motionof the switching member through impetus for instance, becauseat thisparticular time the spring 21 is practically.

inert. The dotteds'lines in said Fig.3 show I the switching member 12 inits-open circuited position, and it can be shifted to circuit closingposition in either direction, although said dotted lines intheparticular view show the open relation. The switching member 12 is notactually freed, nor will it be until the projection, catch or stop 19 iswhollymoved out of the notch 18 whichit may be for the'time' occupying.In said Fig- 3,- however, the spring21 isiprac- 'tically" under maximumstretch, and thestop or projection 1 9 isalmost out ofits notch orslot;i What I claim is: 'Arr electric switch comprising a detent having"notches in its periphery, a turnable' spindle coaxial with and extendingthrough the detent, a switching member having alongitudinal slot-throughwhich the spindle turns, the switching member being capable direction tocarry the catch out of the notch second notch after the switching member10 it occupies, at the same time to stretch said has turned apredetermined distance. spring and also to move the pins free of Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature the fiat faces of the block, thestretched in the presence of two witnesses.

sprin when the catch is out of the notch impai ting a snap movement tothe switching CLARENCE STIRLING member, and a second coiled spring con-Witnesses:

nected with the block and also with the L. L. MAnKnL,

switching member, to move the catch into a HEATH SUTHERLAND.

